“Good team is very important for Captain to handle the Ship,” therefore we wanted to appoint good team for the National Sports Council to build up Sri Lanka sports. Our responsibility and duty is to work for the betterment of sports and through the National Sports Council(NSC) I believe we can uplift the country’s sport said Sport Minister Roshan Ranasinghe at the function to appoint the new National Sports Council members yesterday at the Sport Auditorium at Torrighton grounds.
Sri Lankan World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga was appointed Chairman of the National Sports Council while the the members of the NSC included well known personalities of the sport field.
The sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe further said the decision making ability, handle the team and straight forwardness were the main reasons of Arjuna Ranatunga as a skipper to get success in 1996 World Cup. During the Terrorists War period Sri Lanka cricket team was able to give good message to the world and major honours should go to team leader Arjuna Ranatunga.This is the main reason I invited Ranatunga to get this big responsibility to build up our sports”.
I had to get several efforts to get Ranatunga’ s word for this top post. I knew his value for this post while his talent to handle the team always very well and he proved that at the 1996 World Cup. Now he has to work with team once again at this NSC and I am sure he can go forward to do betterment to the sports said Sports Minister.
For the first time three Forces commanders are included for the NSC and we have idea to get them chance as three forces Army, Navy, Air Force give fine service to build up athletes to bring honour to the country. In addition three Forces gave good support to build up playgrounds and therefore the presence of the three Forces commanders give more strength to NSC.
Three busy characters Army Commander Lt General Vikum Liyanage, Air Force Commander Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenna were present to take membership of NSC at this occasion.
The Sport Minister also pointed out when I was appointed as Sport Minister by the former President I had big challenges as countries economic crisis, while sponsors had very tough situation to support the sport. But I took all the challenges and commenced my duties. We knew there are many more Yupun Abeykoon’s in outstation areas and I don’t know why we can’t search them at this stage. The sports bodies have more responsibility to look after these type of athletes. This time all are expected system change and we have to apply this system change to build up sports and NSC has big responsibility in doing so. I heard the medal winners and coaches words after their victories at the Commonwealth Games. We realized we should give more facilities for the athletes and officials have to work hard for that”.
The Central Government, National Olympic Committee, Education Ministry, Sports Ministry, Provincial Council all have to work together to uplift sports. The sports Minister also said we couldn’t get good opportunity to host the Asia Cup and that’s was very unfortunate and Sri Lanka cricket has to get that responsibility. They conducted Australia, Pakistan series very successfully while they have plan to conduct LPL and why couldn’t get hosting chance for this Asia Cup added Sports Minister.
Meanwhile the newly appointed Chairman of the NSC Arjuna Ranatunga said he has played 19 years for the National cricket team while another 17 years worked for the public as a MP, Deputy Minister and Cabinet Minister. However last two and half years I was able to stay with my family commitment. I never expected big position but I never forget I received everything from cricket. I learnt discipline from cricket and today I also admire decipline very much. I had only four centuries at Test cricket and ODI’ s but more importantly I worked hard for team success.The new Sport Minister has good knowledge about sports and I am very keen to work in this top post. I got this post to serve the country’s sport and I have good vision to uplift the sport.
I think decipline is very important to get success of the sport. Not only the athletes but also the sports officials should maintain their decipline for the success of the sport added NSC chairman.
Especially I am very keen to develop sports not only cricket while I already decided to open office for Wednesdays at Torrighton for the public. Athletes, their coaches, parents, media officials are able to meet NSC members on Wednesday from 9.30 a.m said Arjuna Ranatunga.
Former Athletic official Sunil Jayaweera who was a very talented sports administrator, Major General Rajitha Ampemohotti who is the only member retained the same post from the previous NSC while former Rugby President Lasitha Gunarathne, Former NSC chairman and rugby administrator Dr Maiya Gunasekera, former Commonwealth Games silver medalist and Sri Lanka Olympians President Sriyani Kulawansa, Sports Ministers Advisor Sudath Chandrasekara, Senior Lawyer Ajith Pathirana, Nalinda Ilangakoon the present chairman of the Sri Lanka Electricity Board, Sports Director General Amal Edirisooriya and Secretary of the NSC Sujani Bogollagama are the other members of the NSC.
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